Where NOT to work...

[empressjad]

A friend works for a pretty high-profile law firm. She told me about a memo the employees received yesterday. While I can't quote it verbatim, the gist was

Comments

[dark_phoenix54]

One hopes that every single employee refuses to buy presents for the supervisors. That's such incredible crap.

[empressjad]

Agreed.
One wonders, however, if that act would place a target on the employees' backs.
My friend is also worried that if they buy a "lesser" gift, one not on the "approved" list, if that would also be cause for a target...
While they surely couldn't cite a failure to give the "proper" gift to a superior as a reason for termination, we all know that corporations can find ways to get rid of those that don't play according to the corporation's twisted rules.
With so many people out of work, pleople want to keep the jobs they have, regardless how poorly they're treated.

[dark_phoenix54]

True, and even if everyone said they weren't going to give gifts, in the end, someone would, and make everyone else look bad.

I wonder if some of them could get together and buy one of the 'approved' presents that the greedy bastards want?

[anmorata]

Wow. There are no words.

[empressjad]

No kidding. She's quite upset she didn't get out of there last autumn when she had the chance. Without a bonus, she says she can't possibly afford to buy one of the gifts on the approved list...and she doesn't to be fired for a trumped up reason that's really a veiled reference to this.
The whole thing completely blows!

[empressjad]

Oh, there *are* words. Not nice ones, but they're there...

[girfan]

What amazing cheek!

I wouldn't buy any supervisors anything at all-it should be the other way around since (I'm sure) the supervisors make loads more money than the lower eschelons.

I am so tired of greed culture! If you can, read the book Affluenza.

[empressjad]

Oh, I agree with you, but she's concerned that might give the powers-that-be reason to target her, and she really can't afford to lose the job. Who can?

[empressjad]

I'm not sure (nor is she) what she'll end up doing. I know she needs to keep the job, what with being a single mom of four, but she's got that ethical thing heavily instilled, as well.

[emzebel]

Egads. I never did anything (or received anything) that elaborate when I was at a big firm. I suspect that the suggestions are for things attorneys might give the non-attorney staff that they supervise, not to give to their supervisors, though.

If not then that's one of the most fucked up things I've ever seen.

[empressjad]

I hear you, but she says the memo was quite clear. That list of gift "suggestions" was for the hourly employees (like clerks, mailroom personnel, paralegals, administrative assistants, etc.) to give to their superiors, up to and including the owner of the firm.
Certainly, no one could be terminated for not buying the proper gift for their superior(s), but we all klnow how once you're targeted for not going along....
And yeah, fucked up pretty much covers it.

[kittekaat]

That is too messed up!!! The folks who make the most money should be gifting the others. To take away holiday bonus and suggest that you should buy your boss a gift after that is beyond the pale! This should go public! What assholes!

[empressjad]

The only way it *could* have been worse is to say "We're giving you the bonus, which you must immediately spend (that, and more as well) on your "betters"!

[dicemistress]

That's just f-ed up, royally. Makes me even more appreciative of the company I work for and the job I have.

[empressjad]

I hear you! While one of my jobs can be a pain in the ass, and I LOVE the other, I'm so grateful neither will ever pull something this bad...no matter what!